Eisenman making a convention center behave like theory: zigzags, overlaps, and a building that refuses to be a simple box.
Convention center in Columbus, Ohio.
Visitor Guide
If there isn’t an event, walk the public concourse anyway—follow the zigzag and watch how small deviations keep you slightly disoriented (that’s the point).
High Street frontage near 400 N High St, framing alternating façade segments; late afternoon for long shadows that emphasize the building’s broken-up rhythm.
Public building, but interiors are most accessible during events. Exterior and some public concourse areas are typically accessible depending on security and event setup.
This was Eisenman’s first major civic commission—he smuggled formal complexity into a building type designed to erase personality.
30–75 min (more if attending an event)
Design & Structure
Concept-driven geometry: overlays referencing site histories (rail yards / infrastructure lines) turned into plan and façade logic—complexity generated by systematic deviation rather than sculptural whim.
Masonry and glass in alternating segments—materials used to break the building into readable parts along a long street edge.
Not a structural flex; the engineering challenge is coordinating huge, clear exhibition spans with a formally ‘interrupted’ circulation and façade system.
More by Peter Eisenman
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House VI
Wexner Center for the Arts
City of Culture of Galicia
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
State Farm Stadium
Nearby in Columbus
Wexner Center for the Arts
Cleo Rogers Memorial Library
Cummins Corporate Office Building
Irwin Conference Center
North Christian Church
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Greater Columbus Convention Center?+
Greater Columbus Convention Center was designed by Peter Eisenman. It is located in Columbus, United States.
Where is Greater Columbus Convention Center located?+
Greater Columbus Convention Center is located in Columbus, United States. Its coordinates are 39.9716°, -83.0005°.
Can I visit Greater Columbus Convention Center?+
Greater Columbus Convention Center is a real building in Columbus that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.